Room cooler



July 16, l940 R. T. TIMMs Er Al. 207,956

ROOM COOLER l* l e@ o Q o 557%' Z. INVENTORS, 'Faber/L 7,77/77/775 ATTORNEYS' July 16, 1940. R. T. TIMMs ET AL 2,207,956 ROOM QooLER Filed May l, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS,

BY James E Ma//e/f ATTORNEYS Patented July 16, 1940 ROOM COOLER `Robert T. Timms and James F. Mullen,

Kansas City, Mo.

Application May 1, 1939, Serial No. 270,993

A I t 8 Claims.

This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus in the nature of portable room coolers that may be used as a table or similar article of and cool the air within the room. v The primary object of thisinvention is to provide an effective, ecient, durable and economical air conditioning device that may be constructed of sheet metal or the like, and which has a specially formed ice tank, one wall of which is disposed in the path of travel of a currentof air directed thereagainst by a fan, which is uniquely housed and effectively located so that the cooler may be utilized as an article of furniture while in operation.

This invention has for a further aim,`the provision `of a room cooler of a portable nature which is so designed as to collect from the airpassing therethrough, such excess moisture as will be objectionable to the end that the humidity of the room being cooled, is lowered simultaneously with the lowering of the temperature.

A yet further object of `this invention is to provide a room cooler having a vfan and ice tank, both of which are assembled in such relation as to change the direction of air currents created by the fan, which change of direction occurs ,only after the current originated by the fan* has struck the walls of the ice tank upon which the moisture from the air is collected because of the temperature differential.

Further aims of this invention include the specic form of the parts which are built intothe room cooler and which include the plurality of legs that serve as supports for the cooler and a yieldable mount for the motor; a frusto-conicall form of the ice tank, a portion of which is disposed Within an inverted conical reservoir; the

pedestal which is of a length sufficient to coop-l '4o erate with the blower fan therein in establishing f vertical air currents having sufficient force to change their direction of travel and extend into the room an appreciable distance after'impinging upon the outer face of the ice tank;l and the remo-vable platform which forms a coverfor the ice tank and a table top when the room cooler is employed as an article of furniture.

Further objects including the specific manner of constructing a room cooler in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a room cooler embodying the invention.

furniture, as thesame isv functioning to circulate Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 3 is a Vertical central sectional View through the room cooler, taken on line III-III of Fig. 1. t

Fig. 'Ll is an inverted plan view of the apparatus; and,v y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view through the marginal edge of the platform which forms the cover of the ice tank.

In practice the component parts of the air conditioner, or room cooler, should be formed of sheet metal or analogous material, and the conical, hollow pedestal 6 is open at its upper and lower ends and of suiiicient length to adequately house the means for creating a current of airv upwardly therethrough. This means is in the nature of a motor 6 `on the shaft I ll of which is mounted a series ofblades I2, which when rotated by the motor, create a draft upwardly through pedestal B and against the outer surface of ice tank it which is of a special form and disposed in a particular manner with respect to pedestal V6.

Upwardly and outwardly extending brackets I6 are carried by pedestal t5 and in the preferred embodiment four of these brackets I6 are employed. Brackets I6 should be as narrow as possible so that the space between the upper circumscribing edge of pedestal 6 and ice. tank I4 is unrestricted to allow the outward movement -of air. Ice tank I4 is frusto-conical and inverted so that the base or end of greatest diameter is at the top of the apparatus.

' yBrackets It carry ring I8 and an out-turned marginal edge 29 of tank I4 rests upon ring I8, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. To create the desired seal at this joint, a resilient sealing bead 22 is Yfastened to this marginal edge 20. Bead 22 'f may bemade yfromV a rubber tubing which is split longitudinally and pressed over margin 20.

Platform 24 has a depending annular yflange Z6 secured 4to the under-surface thereof, to prevent lateral displacement'of platform 20 when the parts are in the operative position, shown in the drawings. Platform 26 not only serves as a cover for ice tank Ill, but creates a table top of attractive design. l

The height of the room cooler, or the distance of platform 2d from the floor, should be agreeable tol articles offfurniture which the cooler simulates, and whenthe apparatus is employed as a coffee table for example, the distance of platform 24 from the oor is not as great as when the device is to be used as a card table or the like.

The diameter of ice tank I4 at its upper end is substantially greater than the diameter of reservoir 6. The end of small diameter of tank I4 is closed so that ice 28 may be contained within tank I4 in a place where the vertical currents of air will be separated therefrom only by the downwardly and inwardly inclined wall 3B of tank I4. Bottom wall 32 of tank I4 has a drain opening 34 formed therein for the reception of a drain tube 36, one end of which carries a valve 38 positioned within easy reach of the operator of the cooler.A

Valve 3B is diametrically opposed to valve'40.

which is on the end of drain pipe 42 that communicates with reservoir 44, from which the collected condensate is drawn from time-to-time.

The plurality of relatively narrow fixtures 46 serve to mount reservoir 44 in a place where a small portion of ice tank I4 is disposed therein.

A continuous annular space 47 formed between wall 3i) of tank I4, and the upper end of the downwardly and inwardly inclined wall of reser- Voir 44, permits condensate to flow by gravity downwardly along the outer face of wall 39 and into reservoir 44.

The lower end of pedestal 6 is held above the supporting surface or floor 48, by a number of legs U, each of which is specially formed to carry a foot 52. One end of each leg 5l) extends inwardly and upwardly to `be joined together by plate 54 upon which is mounted motor 8. Legs 5I) are preferably constructed of resilient metal such as spring steel so that the motor is yieldably mounted and cushioned thereby to prevent as far as possible, the production of objectionable noise and vibration.

AIn the illustrated embodiment of the room cooler four legs 50 are shown and plate 54 is located on the vertical central axis of the apparatus, so that the axis of rotation of blades I2 is in alignment with the common vertical axis of tank I4 and reservoir 44.v

The operation of the room cooler is clear to one skilled in the art. While motor 8 is driving blades l2, air is drawn into the hollow pedestal 6, through the open lower end thereof, and directed upwardly therethrough against the outer surface ofi the inclined wall of reservoir 44 and also against the downwardly and inwardly inclined wall 3B of ice tank I4. The space between the circumscribing wall of pedestal 6 is great enough to accommodate the Volume of air which is force-d upwardly by the fan. As the air leaves blades I2 of the fan, its velocity will increase because of the restriction and the force exerted will definitely insure that all 'of the air passing upwzardly through pedestal 6 will impinge against the outer fa'ce of ice tank I4. No moisture will be collected by the air passing through the apparatus-on the contrary, excess moisture will be withdrawn therefrom because ofthe low temperature of wall 30 due to the presence of. ice 28. The form and location of ice tank I4 such as to overhang the upper end of pedestal 6 and the air of the room being cooled which is not drawn through pedestal 6, is circulated about the exposed ccol wall 30 to augment the cooling action.

Obviously, fans of diierent capacity may be employed to speed the velocity of air currents passing through the cooler and apparatus embodying the invention may be made of materials best suited to the conditions met, all without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and .desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A room cooler of the character described comprising a hollow pedestal open at its upper and lower ends; a plurality of legs on the lower end of the pedestal to hold the same spaced above the oor; a plurality of brackets on the upper end of the pedestal; an inverted frusta-conical ice tank mounted on the brackets above the top of said pedestal; a reservoir in the pedestal below the 'ice tank; and means within the pedestal for 2. A room cooler of the character described v comprising a Vertical hollow cylindrical pedestal open at its upper and lower ends; a plurality of legs onV the lower end of the pedestal to hold the samevspaced above the iloor; a vplurality'of upwardly-extending brackets on the upper end of the pedestal; an open top receptacle in the pedestal having an annular, downwardly and inwardly inclined side wall converging to a point on the yaxisI of the pedestal; an inverted frustoconical ice tank mounted on said brackets and having its end of smallest diameter extending into the said receptacle with the annular side wall thereof in spaced relation with the side wall of said receptacle; and a fan within the pedestal for creating a current of air upwardly therethroughkand against the inclined sides of the receptacle and said tank.

3. A room cooler of the character described comprising a vertical hollow cylindrical pedestal open at its upper and lower ends; a plurality of legs on the lower end of the pedestal to hold the same spaced above the floor; a plurality of upwardly extending brackets on the upper end of the pedestal; an open top receptacle in the pedestal having an annular, downwardly and inwardly inclined side wall converging to a point on the axis of the pedestal; an inverted frusto-conical icetank mounted on said brackets and having itsend of smallest diameter extending into the said receptacle within the annular side wall thereof in spaced relation with the side wall of said receptacle; and a fan within the pedestal for creating a current of air upwardly therethrough and against the inclined sides of the receptacle and said tank, said ice tank having its said inclined side wall spaced from the upper end of the pedestal and extending laterally outwardly beyond the pedestal thereabove.

4. A room cooler of the character described comprising a vertical hollow cylindrical pedestal open at its upper and lower ends; a plurality of legs on the lower end of the pedestal to hold the same spaced above the floor; a plurality of upwardly extending brackets on the upper end of the pedestal; an open top receptacle in the pedestal having an annular, downwardly and inwardly inclined side wall converging to a point on the axis of the pedestal; an inverted frusto-'conical ice tank mounted on said brackets and having its end of smallest diameter extending into the said receptacle within the annular side wall thereof in spaced relation with the side wall of said receptacle; and a fan within the pedestal for creating a current of air upwardly therethrough land against the inclined sides of the receptacle and said tank, said ice tank having its said inclined side wall spaced from the upper end of the pedestal and extending laterally outwardly beyond the pedestal thereabove, said iceV tank creating a current of air upwardly therethrough y, and against the inclined side of the ice tank.

having a platform. thereon closing the end of greatest diameter and extending outwardly beyond the edge of the wall thereof.

5. A room cooler of the character described comprising a hollow pedestal open at its upper and lower ends; a plurality of legs on the lower end of the pedestal to hold the same spaced above the oor; a plurality of brackets on the upper end of the pedestal; an inverted frusto-conical ice tank mounted o n the brackets above the top of said pedestal; a reservoir in the pedestal below the ice tank; and means within the pedestal for creating a current of air upwardly therethrough and against the inclined side of the ice tank, said legs being inwardly bent to form a support for the means for creating the current of air.

6. A room cooler of the character described comprising a hollow pedestal open at its upper and lower ends; a plurality of legs on the lower end of the pedestal to hold the same spaced above the floor; a 'plurality of brackets on the upper end of the pedestal; an Ainverted frusto-conical ice tank mounted on the brackets abovethe top of said pedestal; a reservoir in the pedestal below the ice tank; and means within the pedestal for creating a current of air upwardly therethrough and against the inclined side of the ice tank, said means for creating a current of air being a motor and fan blades driven thereby, said vlegs being formed of resilient material and each having a portion spaced above the floor for creating a yieldable support for the said motor.

'7. A room cooler of the character described comprising a vertical hollow cylindrical pedestal open at its upper and lower ends; a plurality of legs on the lower end of the pedestal to hold the v same spaced above theiioor; a. plurality of upwardly extending brackets on the upper end of the pedestal; an open top receptacle in the pedestal having an annular, downwardly and inwardly inclined side wall converging to a point on the axis of the pedestal; an inverted frusto-conical ice tank mounted on said brackets and having its end of smallest diameter extending into the said receptacle within the annularside wall thereof in spaced relation with the side wall of said receptacle; and a fan within the pedestal for creating a current of air upwardly therethrough` and against the inclined sides of the receptacle and said tank, said ice tank having its said inclined side wall spaced from the upper end of the pedestal and extending laterally outwardly be yond the pedestal thereabove, said ice tank having a platform thereon closing the end of greatest diameter and extending outwardly beyond the edge of the wall thereof, said fan having its axis on the vertical axis of the said ice tank and the receptacle whereby the upwardly directed air current is divided into evenly distributed radial paths beginning at points of impingement of the upwardly directed air current on the outer surface of the ice tank.

8. A room cooler of thecharacter described comprising a vertical hollow cylindrical pedestal open at its upper and lower ends; a plurality of legs on the lower end of the pedestal to hold the same spaced above the floor; a plurality of upwardly extending brackets on the upper end of the pedestal; an open top receptacle in the pedestal having an annular, downwardly and inwardly inclined side wall converging to a point on the axis of thepedestal; an inverted frusto-conical ice tank mounted on said brackets and having its end of smallest diameter extending into the said receptacle Within the annular side wall thereof in spaced relation with the side wall of said receptacle; and a fan within the pedestal for creating a current of air upwardly therethrough and against the inclined sides of the receptacle and said tank, said ice tank having its said inclined sidewall spaced from the upper end of the pedestal and extending laterally outwardly lbeyond the pedestal thereabove, said ice tank having a removable platform thereon closing the endr of ygreatest diameter and extending outwardly beyond the edge of the wall thereof, said ice tank having a resilient sealing head around the edge thereof in engagement with the under side of said platform, said platform having a depending annular fiange thereon circumscribing the said edge of the ice tank for precluding lateral displacement of the platform.

ROBERT 'r'. 'rn/IMS. JAMES F. MULLEN. 

